Ironing-machine.



Patented Aug. 26, 1902.`

HARM. IRNING MACHINE.

@pplication `flied Mar. 15, 1901.)

K 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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` n4 L we No1-ws PETERS co PHmo-Lwha. wlsnmmon vIl HARRIS.

IRONING MACHINE.

(Application med Mar. 15, 1901.)

um Model.) s sheets-sheet 2.

No. 707,968'. n Patented Agg. 26, 1902.

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Patented Aug. 26, |902, l. HARRIS.

IRONING MACHINE. Application mea mr. 15, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

U40 Model.)

//v VEN Tof? M? A fron/VE rs UNITED 'STATES VPATmv-*r Ormes,

IsAIAH HARRIS, or VAN WERT, onto.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patentr No. 707,968, dated August 26, 1902.

Application filed March 15, 1901. Seria-l No.`51,241.' (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t 71mg concern:

Be it known that I, ISIAHHARRIS, a citizen of the UnitedV States, residing 'at Van Wert, in the county of Van Wert, in the State of Ohiofhaving invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Ironing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this speciiication.

My invention relates Ato improvements in ironing-machines specially 'designed and adapted for use in laundries.

The object of my present invention is to provide an ironing-machine for laundry use of simple and economical construction', convenient, efficient, and reliable in action, in which the iron has botha vertical and a longitndinal movement in use, and a sectional ironing-board is rotatably mounted in cooperative relation with the iron and is adjustable at the will-'of the operator. l

My invention consists of an upright supporting-frame surmounted by a fixed table having lateral clothes-shields, a sectional ironing-board rotatably mounted on the said table, a smoothing and polishing iron yieldingly supported above the ironing-board in cooperative relation therewith, improved means for imparting to the iron a limited reciprocating horizontal movement, means for automatically reversing the said movement of the iron at each limit of its movement, and means for reversing the movement of the iron at thepleasure of the operator.

The principal novel features'of my in vention are the improved construction of the iron, the revoluble sectional ironing-board, and the meansi'or automatically reversing the horizontal movement of the iron at each limit of its travel.

Referring now to the accompanying dra-wings, in which similar reference-numerals indicate like parts throughout the several vie ws, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimprovement, showing the relative arrangement of the operative parts 4and also showing in dotted outline the 4limit of the vertical and horizontal movements of the working parts.

kment of the carriage.

Vper end of the rod 62.-

Fig. 2 .is a plan View of the same, showing manner of supporting the iron'in position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the sectional vironing-board and the means for operating and securing the same in position for use. Figf-t is a cross-section of the ironing-board shaft'and spider on the line'w of Fig. 3, showing the manner of securing the sections of the ironing-board to its supporting-shaft. Fig. is a cross-sectionof the same shaft and the radial webs of the said ironing-board on the line y y of Fig. 3 'wth'the shaft broken away in part to show. the concave lower face of the ironing-.board brackets. y Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective details of my improved iron, and' Fig. S is a cross-section of the same midway of its ends. Fig. 9 is a detail of the ironactuating carriage in position on its drivingshaft. Fig. 1U vis a detail plan of the bevelpinion which actuates the said driving-shaft, showing the manner ot' supporting the same. Fig. 11 is a cross-section ot' the carriage and actuating screw-shaft, taken through the split nut which engages said shaft, showing the means for securing it in its working engagement with said shaft. Fig. 12 is a detail planof the means fory reversing the move- Fig. 13 is a detail showing the vertical ways for the verticallymovable frame and the ribs for engaging the same. Fig. 14l is an enlarged detail of the adjustable collars in position on' the up- Fig. 15 is a detail of the lower end of the rod 62, showing the manner of securing the same to the bar 42. Fig. 16 is a detail of or section of the ironingboard 12, showing its relative width.

All parts of my invention are made of suitable metal except the ironing-board, which is preferably made of wood.

The supporting-frame,consisting of the forward legs 1 and the rear legs 2,of proper dimensions, is surmounted .by a fixed Atable 3, Fig. 1, to the opposite sides of which are rigidly secured-the upright shields for the purl pose hereinafter described. Upon the forward portion of the table 3 are erected "the fixed standards 5 and having coincident circular openings in which the horizontal shaft 7 is revolubly. mounted. To the top of these standards 5 and 6 a short Itable is -rigidly fixed by bolts or other propermanner, Fig.

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3, adapted to aid in supporting the clothes during the operation of ironing. Upon the rearwardly-projecting end of the shaft 7 the four sections 9, 10, 1l, and 12 of theironingboard are adjustably mounted, as follows: The shaft 7 at a suitable distance from its rear end is provided with a spider-casting 7', having apertured peripheral lugs 13, arranged in pairs, as shown in Fig. 4, to which the metallic brackets 14, 15, 16, and 17 are respectively secured by proper pivots 18. The lower faces of these brackets are extended, as shown, and are made concave, Fig. 5, to fit the adjacent portion of the perimeter of the shaft 7, against which they rest. To the upper edge of the said brackets 14, 15, 16, and 17 the said ironing-board sections 9, 10,11, and l2 are respectively secured by proper bolts. The said ironing-board sections are so arranged o n the shaft 7 that their inner ends clear the adjacent end of the said table 8 when the shaft 7 is revolved for the purpose hereinafter described. As shown in Fig. 4,l

the forward ends of the said brackets 14, 15, 16, and 17 are provided with the terminal slits or slots 14',15', 16', and 17', respectively, whereby when the said ends are clamped between the said ears and secured by the pivots 18 they will normally bind therein, whereby the operator can give the three ironingboard sections not in use alimited radialadjustment out of his way. At a suitable point on the shaft 7 is fixed the clutch 19, having a series of peripheral notches or recesses 20, adapted for a holding engagement with the pawl 2l, which is fixed on the short horizontal shaft 22, rotatably mounted in the apertured ears 23 on the inner face of the standard 6. To the outer end of the shaft 22 is fixed the upper end of the crank-arm 24, which passes through a vertical slot 3' in the table 3 and has its lower end pivotally connected to the forward end of the rod 25, whose free end has asuitable knob 26, which is grasped by the operator and pushed inward to release the said paw'l from its holding engagement with the said clutch when it is desired to rotate the shaft 7. The outer end of the rod 25 is loosely supported in a suitable bracket 26' on the lower face of the table 3 and has a coiled retractile spring 25', adapted to return the said rod to its normal position. At a proper point 011 the lower face of the table 3 and near the rear end thereof are rigidly fixed the pendent brackets 27 in transverse and parallel arrangement, and are provided upon their inner faces with the longitudinal slots or ways 28. The inner faces of the upper portion of the legs l are also provided with similar grooves or ways for the purpose about to be described. A rectangular frame is provided, consisting of the top plate 29 and the A bottom plate 30', rigidly united at their opposite extremities by the end plates 3l and 32. At a proper point on the bottom plate 30', near the forward end thereof, is arranged a fixed or integral transverse plate or lug 33, having an opening in which the screw-shaft 30 is rotatably mounted. These end plates 31 and 32 have on their opposite upright edges a longitudinal rib 37, Fig. 13, adapted to loosely Iit the said slots or ways 28 to prevent any longitudinal movement of the said rectangular frame, which is firmly supported by the upright braces 38. This screw-shaft 30 has its opposite endsrrotatably mounted in the said end plates 3l and 32, has its rear portion provided with right and left hand screwthreads, and has a fixed bevel gear-wheel 34 near its forward end, adapted for an actuating engagement with a bevel gear-wheel 35 on the upper end of the oblique shaft 36, whose upper end passes through a suitable opening in the bottom plate 30'. The lower ends of the rear legs 2 are rigidly connected by the cross-bar 39, on which a suitable operatingseat 40 is fixed by proper standards 41. The lower ends of the legs 1 are connected by the bifurcated and pivoted forward end ot` the longitudinal bar 42, whose rear end is loosely mounted on the upright post 43, which is fixed on the said bar 39. The rear end of this bar 42 is supported on the coil-spring 44 on the post 43, whereby it has a limited vertical movement against the tension of the' said spring 44 in the manner hereinafter described. The lower end of the said braces 38 are rigidly connected to the said bar 42 at or near the middle of its length, whereby the said rectangular frame carrying the shaft 30 also has a limited vertical movement. ln a suitable bifurcation 45 in the rear end of the barv 42 is revolubly mounted a bevel gear-wheel 46 of proper dimensions, adapted t'or an actuating engagement with a meshing gear-wheel 47 on the lower end of the said shaft 36. The lower end of the shaft 36 is rotatably mounted in a supporting-bracket 48, and the upper end thereof is supported in an oblique hangerbracket 75, pivotally mounted on the plate 30' and arranged in a slot 76 therein. By this construction the upper end of the rod 36 has a slight yielding movement to accommodate the vertical movements of the frame carrying the screw-shaft. Each end of the shaft on which the driving gear-wheel 46 is fixed is provided with a pedal-crank 49,where by the screw-shaft 30 is rotated by means of the driving-gear 46. On the said screw-shaft 30 is loosely mounted the metallic block or carriage 50, having upon its opposite ends the wheels or rollers 51 upon its lower surface, adapted to snugly fit the grooved way 53 on the bottom plate 30' and having upon its upper face similar wheels or rollers 52, adapted to run in the grooved way 54 in the top plate 29, whereby the weight of said block or carriage in use is supported by the said plates 29 and 30 instead of by the shaft 30, thereby greatly diminishing the friction. This carriage 50 is provided upon its lower face with a Vertical transverse recess 50', in which is loosely suspended the split nut 55,

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face of the said nut 55 isprovided with-right-v handed screw-threads, and the opposite in ner face thereof is provided .with left-handed screw-threads, whereby when one side of the saidnut is held inengagement with the said revolving shaft 30 the carriage '50 willbe driven forward thereon, and when the otherv side of the nut 55 is held into engagement with the shaft 30 the carriage 50 will be forced to travel in theopposite direction. A fiat spring 57, secured at one end to the yoke-y .spring 68, has its free end arranged in the.

upper part of thesaid recess The nut 55 is provided with-two inclined faces at 5S and 59, adapted to be in parallel arrangement, respectively, with the adjacent face of the said recess 50 when the correspondingly-oppositeA side or jaw of the nut isin. its engagement, wherebythe said spring 57 will be held against its tension into contact with the carriage 50,

as shown in Fig. ll. j This spring 57willthus inturn firmly holdthe nut to its engagement with the shaft 30, as follows: The .cen-

terrof the shaft 56 is at alltimes in a vertical .line with the center ofthe shaft 30, whereby.

when the said nut is rocked into Aeither one of its two operative positions the tensionof the spring 57 will be so exerted upon said nut just over or beyond this line as to firmly hold it to itsengagement invanobvious manner. The means for automatically reversing the direction of movement of the said blockV or, carriage 50 is as follows: At one side of the upright standard 33 is xeda rearwardlyprojecting plate, stud, or lug60, having its inner edge beveled, as shown, and projecting into the path of the nut 55 when the opposite side thereof is engaged with the shaft 30 and is adapted by contact with the forward beveled edge of the said nut toforce the adjacent side or jawthereofinto engagement with the screw-shaft 30, thereby automatically reversing its direction of travel on the shaft 30. `To the inner face' of the end plate 3l` and upon the opposite side ofthe shaft 30 is iXed a similar lug or stud 6l, which projects into the line of travel of the said nut in the opposite direction and in the same manner shifts-the engagement thereof,l and so reverses itsdif rection of travel. The limit of the travel of the said carriage in either direction is thus determinedby the location ofA the said 'lugs or studs 60 and-6l. To. enable the operator to reverse the direction of travel of the said 1 carriage at will, as in an emergency, the said`r rod 56, on which the nut 55 is slidably mounted.

and from'which itis suspended, has its outer rear end bent to a right-angular relation and vertically-perforated to loosely` contain the upper end of a trip-rod 62, having a pair of said bars 67.

adjustable collars63, whose distance apart regulates the play of 'said-rod in said slot without disturbing the nut55 by any rockingmotion of the rod 56. The lower end of this `trip-rod 62 is 'rigidly connected to bar 42 at or near its rear end. The mechanismv for mounting my improved iron on the said carriage 50 is as follows: To the front end of said carriage 50 is secured the lower bifurcated end of the curved bar 64, whichis supported on the grooved perimeter of an idler 65, mounted in an opening 66 in theV end plate 32. v To the upper endof said bar 64 -arebolted the forward ends of the spread bars 67, whose rear ends are loosely secured to the opposite ends' ofthe iron 69 by being bent about the same, as shown in Fig. 6. To the sides of said carriage at or near the middle of its length are fixed the lower ends of the double yoke-spring 68, which is rigidly bolted at its upper portion to the s aid bars 6 7, near the forward end thereof. The iron 69 of any proper internal construction and rotatably mounted in the bent ends of the said bars 67, as described, -is heated by a gas-jet or other .proper manner, has an operatinghandle 70 for rotating the same, and has two Hat peripheral surfaces 7l and 72, the former being/triangular in contour and is specially designed and adapted for ironing seams and between rufes, while the latter is adapted for the ironing of rufes in the manner hereinafter described andfor ironing in. general. The cylindrical surface of said iron is used for polishing .in awell-understood manner. The operation .and manner ofemploying luy-invention thus described is obvious and, briefly stated, `isas follows: The article tobeironed is placed upon the small table 8, where it is within easy reach of the operator on thev seat 40, who can readily and conveniently Amanipulate the same on either-of the said ironing-board sections abovel'wh'ich the iron 69 is normally suspended by means ofthe He then rotates` the said driving-gear 46 by means of the pedals 49, thereby rotating the said screw-shaft-3O continuously in the same direction, which-in `turn imparts to the said carriage 50 a longitudinal movement on said shaft 30 by :the engagement of the said nut 55 therewith, as ldescribed, and thusimparts alike longitudinalv movement to the said iron 69, which-it carries.A As the said rectangular frame in-which the screw-shaft .30 is revolubly-mounted is movably mounted in the vertical ways 28 in ,the saidbrackets27 and in the upper ends of vthesaid legs l and is supported-on the pivoted bar 42 by means of the bars 38, it is ob- IOC IIO

vious that under proper` adjustment the downward pressure of theY operator onthe pedals 49Vwill-bring the adjacent end of the lever 42 down against the tension of the spring 44, yas shown in dotted,v outline in Fig. vl, thereby bringing-.downward to its lowest limit the said frame carrying the screw-shaft A. and carriage, whereby the saidiron is brought down with a proper pressure upon the said ironing-board, and the continued revolution of the screw-shaft 30 imparts to the iron a reciprocating horizontal movement back and forth upon the said ironing-board. As the rod 56, upon which the meshing split nut 55 is slida-bly mounted, is angular in cross-section, it cannot turn thereon, and the operator can at the same time shift the said nut at will by means of the said trip-rod G2 for the purpose of reversing at pleasure the horizontal movements of the iron, as follows: Vhen the iron is approaching the operator, a proper decreased or relaxed pressure of the feet on the said pedals will reverse the movement of the iron, and when the iron is receding from the operator its movement can be reversed by a proper increased pressure on said pedals. The manipulation of the iron in coperation withy the ironing-board is as follows: For general purposes the board 10 is employed, as it presents the largest surface. It is also used for ironing ruiitles, the point 10 coacting with the point 72 of the iron for that purposein an obvious manner, the pointed and concave rear end of the board l0 permitting the operator to hold, spread, and manipulate the ruffle directly beneath the point 72 of the iron without danger of contact therewith. It is Well known that the operation of ironing seams and between ruiiies by machinery is a diflicult one, but which is perfectly and conveniently accomplished by using the triangular face 7l. For ironing puflc sleeves the short board 9 is used, While the long and narrow board l2 is adapted for pressing seams, and the board 11 is employed for pressing pants. As before described, the sectional ironing-board can readily be rotated with the shaft 7 and is securely locked in a position to cooperate with the iron, which is also conveniently rotated to employ either of the surfaces 7l or 72 or its cylindrical surface S0 for polishing by means of the handle '70 and is securely locked in the desired operative position by the engagement of the handle 70 with the notch 70' or other proper manner. When the article to be ironed is supported on the table 8 for manipulation upon either of the ironing-boards,thelateral shields 4 prevent any contact thereof with the moving parts of the machine. As before described, the longitudinal movements of the iron-supporting carriage are limited and automatically reversed by the engagements of the lugs and 6l, respectively, with the adjacent face of the nut 55, and these movements can be reversed at pleasure by actuating the rod 62 by either an increased or decreased pressure on the said pedals, as above described.

While I have shown my improved machine as being operated by foot-power, any suitable motive power can readily be connected to the projecting free end of the said screw-shaft 30 in a well-understood manner.

My improved ironing-machineis thus simple and substantial in construction, convenient and efficient in use, and positive and reliable in operation.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of employing the same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. In an ironing-machine, an upright supporting-frame surmounted by a fixed table; a vertically-movable frame arranged within said upright frame beneath said table; a right and left screw threaded shaft revolubly mounted in said movable frame; means for actuating said shaft; a carriage loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with a split nut suspended therein and adapted for a meshing engagement with but one side of said shaft at a time, whereby the said carriage is afforded a longitudinal movement thereon; means for automatically reversing the movement of said carriage at predeterminal limits of its travel; means for normally holding said nut to its actuating engagement; a sectional ironing-board revolubly mounted on said table as described; lateral shields fixed on said table as shown; an iron supported by said carriage normally suspended above and in cooperative relation with the said board; and means for actuating the said vertically-movable frame to bring the said iron into operative relation with the said ironing-board.

2. An ironing-machine consisting of an upright supporting-frame; a horizontal screwshaft having right and left screw-threads revolubly and yieldingly mounted in said frame; means for rotating said shaft and forimparting thereto a limited vertical movement; a carriage mounted on said shaft and adapted to be actuated thereby in opposite directions; means for automatically reversingr said carriage at each limit of its travel; a sectional ironingboard rotatably mounted on said frame as described; and an iron supported from said carriage and normally suspended above said board and in cooperation therewith.

3. The combination of an upright frame; a right and left handed screw-shaft rotatably mounted and yieldingly supported in said frame; means for rotating said shaft, and means for imparting thereto a limited vertical movement; a carriage movably mounted on said shaft and adapted to be actuated thereby in opposite directions; means for automatically reversing said carriage at each limit of its travel; an ironing-board mounted on said frame; an iron yieldingly supported above and in cooperative relation with said board; and means for rigidly connecting the said iron with the said carriage.

4. In an ironing-machine of the class specified, mechanism for imparting to the iron a reciprocating motion in a horizontal plane consisting of a horizontal shaft having right and left handed screw-threads; a carriage movably mounted on said shaft, and provided with a split nut adapted to alternately engage the said shaft upon opposite sides for IOO IIO

the purpose of actuating the said carriage in opposite directions; means for automatically reversing the said carriage at each limit of its travel; and meausfor rigidly supporting the said iron upon the said movable carriage.

5. In an ironing-machine meausforactuating the iron to and fro in a horizontal plane, consisting of a horizontal screw-shaft having right and left handed threads; a carriage movably mounted thereon and provided with a pivoted split nut whose threaded jaws are adapted for an alternate actuating engagement With the said shaft whereby the said carriage is alternately actuated in opposite directions; means for rotating the said shaft; means for automatically reversingthe movement of said carriage at each limit of its travel; means for reversing the movement of said carriage at any desired point in' its travel;

and meahsfor iirmly supporting the said iron upon the said carriage.

6. In anirouing-machine, an ironing-board consisting of radial sections pivotally mounted upon a revoluble shaft as described, and means for locking the said board in any desired position.

7. In an ironing-machine means for supporting a movable iron consisting of a rota- 

